Saving horses from slaughter

Equine rescues, individuals save pregnant mares

Ambulatory Equine Medicine veterinarian Dr. Susan Williams feeds two pregnant mares Friday, March 29, 2013 on her property in west Loveland that she rescued from slaughter.
(
Steve Stoner
)

Quarter horses Minnie and Kimme don't know that they were almost slaughtered, even though they are about to foal.

They would have been crammed into a stock trailer without food or water for a trip down to Mexico or Canada, where they or some of their companions would have died along the way. Their destination would have been outside the United States because in 2007 the Supreme Court passed a ruling shutting down horse slaughter plants in the U.S.

"It's not rare, unfortunately," said Floss Blackburn, founder and president of Denkai Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit with two locations in Weld County that rescues, rehabilitates, fosters and adopts out large animals and dogs.

On Feb. 23, Denkai Animal Sanctuary received notice from Shiloh Acres Horse Rescue in Ault that at least nine heavily pregnant mares would be shipped to Mexico slaughter plants the next day unless enough funding could be raised to make their bail. The mares were in a feedlot in Weld County.

Denkai was able to take in a total of six pregnant mares, while other rescue groups, including Shiloh Acres, took in another five. Shiloh Acres placed two of the mares right away, and Denkai, three.

"It's really important to educate the public about this issue about horse slaughter and do away with the myths out there," Blackburn said, adding that horses sent to slaughter are believed to be old and crippled, but some are well-trained, young and in good health.

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"Their lives are dictated by us and the people who take them on. When we fail them, they suffer."

Blackburn said that too often individuals, breeders, dude ranches and others drop their horses at a local sale barn, not realizing that if another horse owner doesn't bid or purchase them, the animals end up in a kill pen, most likely heading to slaughter. The horse owners may no longer be able to feed the horses due to raising feed prices, or the breeders need to reduce their numbers, she said.

"There are resources out there to help them with that," Blackburn said. "Any of the humane organizations that deal with equine rescue have a large network that is national that can help find homes and placements for horses.

Susan Williams, a veterinarian with Ambulatory Equine Medicine, Inc., in Loveland, is fostering two of the 11 pregnant mares on her property. She reached out to some of her current clients for contributions, raising $3,000 to provide feed and support for the horses.

"I'm taking care of them, making sure everything is in line for the foals," Williams said.

Minnie appears to be ready to foal in two weeks and Kimme in four weeks, she said.

"They're attached to each other," Williams said. "They completely co-habitate perfectly. ... They're so very trusting, not really having known their situation."

Williams said sending horses to slaughter is cruel.

"They're scared," she said. "Horses are mentally very sensitive, and they get scared more easily. Mentally and physically, it's so hard on a horse to be in that situation."

To learn more about the mares for adoption or for viewing, call 217-1457 or email info@denkai

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